Fourth album finds Megan returning back to her roots

Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

Country-Americana singer/songwriter Megan O’Neill has honed her music all over the world – and now she’s bringing it all back home.  In developing her career over the course of the last decade, Megan has spent time living in Nashville and London, moving frantically from show to show in cities across the globe.

Now, having forged a successful path in the music industry, the Kildare native could be forgiven for relaxing and taking pride in her achievements to date.

Instead, Megan seems most comfortable at the centre of a manic schedule.

She plays Galway’s Róisín Dubh on Friday week, November 8, as part of a hotly anticipated Irish tour. With a fourth studio album set for release in 2020, Megan’s winter dates are likely to precede an important year in her career.

Her track record over the last year bodes well for the album – while brand new single Rootless has earned excellent early reviews, it was February cover track Girl Crush that took Megan to a new level in terms of online streaming figures.

“I was talking to a producer friend of mine in London,” she recalls.

“We’ve worked together on quite a few bits and he said he was thinking about building a track for this song and he asked ‘Do you want to sing it and maybe release it as a cover?’ I’d never released a cover before so I was like ‘Yeah OK…’ I went over and within an hour, the song was done.

“I put it up online not really thinking anything but there was an amazing reaction which was great. It’s such a beautiful song and lyrically I think it’s a stunning piece.”

With four records to her name, Megan has shown a willingness to adapt to the variety of demands that come with a career in music.

As she continues her development with this next album, it is worth acknowledging her ability across multiple styles over the last few years.

“I think every record for me has been a massive change,” she notes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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